Chapter 122: My Engagement
Amira exhaled slowly, her jaw tightening as reality settled in. She needed him. More than she wanted to admit. The will. Everything depended on it.
And Sebastian was the only one who could make it happen.
---
The evening stretched quietly across the house, but Amira found no rest in it. She sat on the porch. And waited.
Hours seemed to melt into each other, the sky fading from gold... to grey... to a deep, swallowing blue. The streetlights flickered on one by one, casting long shadows that danced across the compound.
Still, she didn’t move.
Her hands rested in her lap, but her fingers kept tightening, loosening, tightening again. Her mind wouldn’t stop. Sebastian’s words echoed. I’ll take care of it.
A chill crept through her. She knew what that meant. She always knew. The sound of a car pulling in snapped her out of her thoughts.
Julian. Amira straightened slightly, quickly composing herself, though the tension never quite left her shoulders.
The door opened. Footsteps. Then his voice. "Why are you still here? Waiting for Leo?"
It was casual. Light. Unaware.
Amira shook her head quickly, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"No... I was waiting for you." Julian paused, studying her for a brief second. Something in her tone must have caught his attention.
"Well," she continued, her voice softer now, "I want to tell you... and my sister something." A flicker of curiosity crossed his face.
But beneath it, something else lingered. A quiet suspicion. For a split second, a thought crossed his mind. Was she finally going to confess? That night. Madam Pedro’s death. The unanswered questions.
The things that never quite made sense. He pushed the thought aside, nodding instead. "Okay."
---
Upstairs, the room felt warmer. Softer. Safer. Amara lay on the bed, her body relaxed but her face carrying that gentle exhaustion that hadn’t left her since the pregnancy.
The door opened. "Hey, honey."
Julian’s voice softened instantly as he walked in, leaning down to press a kiss against her forehead before wrapping an arm around her.
For a moment, everything felt normal. Peaceful. "Amira wants to say something to us," he added.
Amara glanced toward the door, curious. Amira stood there, just for a second longer than necessary.
Like she was gathering herself. Then she stepped in. Her heart was beating too fast. Too loud. But her face, her face had to remain calm. "Well..." she began. A pause.
"I’ve put things with Leo on hold for too long." She swallowed lightly.
"So... we decided to make it official. We’re having a small engagement tomorrow. At the foundation. Just a few people." Her eyes shifted, briefly, almost unintentionally. Then back again.
"I want both of you there." She tried to sound steady. Happy. But something underneath betrayed her. Something uncertain.
Something... afraid. Because even as the words left her lips. She knew. This wasn’t just an engagement.
It was a setup. And somewhere behind it. Sebastian was pulling the strings.
"Wow, Amira!" Amara’s face lit up instantly, all warmth and excitement.
"That’s wonderful news! I’m so happy for you." She pushed herself up slightly, smiling widely.
"With everything that’s been happening, I completely forgot about it." There was no suspicion in her voice. Only love. Only joy.
"Please tell me you’re not still thinking about that crazy rooftop wedding," she teased, laughing softly, "with leather jackets and a motorbike entrance?"
She reached out, pulling Amira into a hug. Tight. Genuine. Full. Amira froze just for a second before slowly hugging her back.
Her arms wrapped around her sister, but the warmth didn’t quite reach her heart. Instead... Guilt crept in. Cold. Heavy. Unwelcome.
"I love you, sister," Amara whispered, smiling against her shoulder. Amira’s lips curved into a smile. But it felt... wrong. Forced. Like it didn’t belong to her.
"I love you too, Amara." And as she pulled away. Her eyes flickered, just for a moment. Because deep down. She wasn’t sure if that love was about to protect her sister... Or destroy her.
—
The foundation had been dressed for something small... almost intimate. Nothing extravagant.
Soft lights hung like quiet stars across the open space, casting a warm glow over neatly arranged tables. A few guests lingered in low conversations, their laughter light, unaware of the tension slowly threading its way into the evening.
At the entrance, Amira stood beside Leo. Smiling. Greeting. Playing her part perfectly.
If anyone looked closely, they might notice the stiffness in her shoulders... the way her fingers tightened slightly around the glass in her hand. But no one looked that closely. No one ever did.
---
Amara and Julian arrived together. Side by side. Calm. Unassuming. For a brief moment, it almost felt like any other evening.
Until Amara’s steps slowed. Then stopped. Her fingers instinctively curled into Julian’s arm.
There he was. Sebastian. Standing across the room, as he belonged there. Like he had always belonged there.
A glass of wine rested lazily in his hand, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable... almost harmless. Almost. Amara froze.
The world around her dimmed, the soft laughter, the music, the gentle clinking of glasses, all faded into something distant.
Her heartbeat didn’t. It grew louder. Faster. Julian felt it.
The shift. His body stiffened instantly, his arm moving slightly in front of her, not obvious, but deliberate. Protective.
His gaze locked onto Sebastian, sharp and unwelcoming. There was no confusion in his eyes.
Only recognition. Only warning. Sebastian didn’t move. Didn’t react. He simply stood there... watching. Waiting. Like this moment had been carefully planned.
Amira saw it. Of course she did. The tension. The way Amara had gone was still. The way Julian’s entire presence had changed in a second. Her stomach dropped.
But it was too late. Far too late. She moved quickly toward them, her smile already in place, though it felt heavier now. Forced. Fragile.
"Amara... I’m sorry," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I didn’t know he was friends with Leo. He invited him."
The lie slipped out smoothly. Too smoothly. Like she had rehearsed it.
"I hope that’s okay," Leo added, stepping forward, completely unaware of the storm standing right in front of him.
"He’s actually one of my investors. We’ve... become good friends."
Good friends. The words hung in the air longer than they should have. Uncomfortable. Sharp. Unwelcome.
Amara forced herself to breathe. In. Out. Slow. Controlled.